Using this book for over two years, I've found all the Messiers and learnt a whole lot from this book. The book starts off with briefly introducing the pre-requisites to stargazing, and the geometric estimation method for locating the deep-sky using a Telrad. The book also tells the story of Charles Messier, and the origins of the Messier Marathon. He then takes the reader on a tour of all the Messier objects. Since this book has its focus on the Messier Marathon, the sequence of the objects is based on his observing sequence during the Marathon. However, as Harvard points out, this book does not necessarily have to be used during a Marathon and can be used any time to locate any of the Messier objects. The finder charts proved to be extremely useful, and I found this book becoming the book I refer to the most. The advantage is, I don't have to flip through other star maps looking for the Messier objects I'd like to observe. Its all included in this book. Therefore, I used this book more than my star atlas while observing the Messier objects. There is a little bit of inaccuracy with some of the charts. For example, in the chart for finding M75, I found I had to extend a little further than the distance from the mouth of the teapot to the lower corner of its handle away from tau Sag. to get to M75. Perhaps it was my problem of not using a powered finder (only the Telrad), but I had to try 5 times before I was compelled to move my scope little further east and north when the dim glow of M75 slid into view. This situation is actually clearly demonstrated in any star atlas, M75 is definitely a little further than the estimate.(I did very careful measurements on a printout of a few star chart program and Harvard's estimation method got to 0.6 to 1 degree from M75 depending on the angle deviation from the gamma Sag. - tau Sag. line, so I'm guessing some people may have troubles) Nevertheless, this is a VERY minor complaint for Harvard's method is based on estimation. Getting as near to the object as possible with the simplest method is what matters. My suggestion to any similar situation is to use a star atlas beside this book too to help with objects that don't seem to show up on first or second attempt. Furthermore, if the object is not in view, do scan around a little (which Harvard did mention). In a real Messier Marathon, don't panic (as I did =) and keep in mind that the less detailed charts are mainly for estimation. Overall, an exceptional book, beautifully written and educating. A book that deserves to be on the bookshelves of all amateur astronomers!

This is an extremely helpful book. I rate it among the very best for helping in your Messier Object search: At the April 2000 Messier marathon, I found 75 objects, and was on schedule to find 105, but I grew too tired to continue. On a recent star party in September, 2000, I found 45 objects before midnight, thanks largely to this book. Buy it while you still can!

After trying run my first Messier marathon with charts that I had prepared myself, I wish I had had this book with me that night. I would have seen alot more. Using this book, I have able to locate many objects that I had not been able to find before with certainty.

This book is excellent resource that I now take along with my telescope to every star party. The charts and object sketches are well oriented to the practicing amateur astronomer. Also covered are telescope calibration, observing techniques, and site selection. The only drawback to this book that I have found so far has been that it is not printed on waterproof paper. So, I had to order another copy to cut up and laminate.

For most Americans World War II is John Wayne, Tom Hanks, D-Day, and Pearl Harbor. The plucky British gave a hand now and then and the ungrateful French needed us once more to pull their goose-fat from the fire. Oh yes, it snowed a lot on the Eastern Front. Yet, more than a cursory examination of the Second World War shows even first year history students that the Atlantic Theatre was very much a Russo-German War, with the Western Front playing a secondary role. The Russian story of the Great Patriotic War has not imprinted itself on the American popular imagination. Even less known is the role played in that great struggle by Russia's women.

Over 800,000 women served their Motherland in World War II, nearly 200,000 of them decorated. 89 of those women eventually received Russia's highest award, the Hero of the Soviet Union. Reina Pennington's book tells the story of Russia's airwomen during World War II with the passion of a best selling novel. Yet, the well documented footnotes and thorough Appendix attest to the research that has gone into this scholarly work.

Pennington's book focuses on three female regiments formed by Soviet hero, Marina Raskova, but also gives insight into women who served in mostly male regiments. She provides a gripping account that will satisfy those hearing about the USSR's airwomen for the first time, as well as adding new information about command struggles within the fighter regiment.

The story of 46th Guards Night Bomber Aviation Regiment, staffed through the entire war completely with women pilots, navigators, mechanics and commanding officers, makes any current debates about the suitability of women in combat seem like a convocation of the flat earth society. These women settled that debate long ago. Pennington quotes Soviet test pilot and HSU Mark Gallai on what it was like for the women bombers to fly their missions in the outdated biplanes to which they were assigned:

"It means coming under fire from anti-aircraft weapons of every calibre...it means enemy night fighters, blinding searchlights and often bad weather, too; low cloud, fog, snow, ice, and gales that throw a light aircraft from one wingtip to the other...all this in a Po-2, which is small, slow and as easily set alight as a match."

Yet, these women, averaging 5-15 flights a night(more in the winter, less in the summer), surviving on 2-4 hours of sleep a day for four years, managed to fly over 24,000 sorties, drop 23,000 tons of bombs, and account for 23 Hero of the Soviet Union awards.

Up to this point English language readers interested in the heroic stories of these women have had the excellent works of Kazimiera Cottam ("Women in Air War," "Women in War and Resistance")and the interesting interviews conducted by Anne Noggle ("A Dance with Death"). Yet, as important as these works are, none attempts to tell the story of Soviet airwomen as a complete narrative. Pennington weaves the individual tales of these women into a fabric that is compelling in its humanity. Hers is the story of ordinary women in extraordinary times who achieved what today seems impossible. They gave the full measure of their devotion in a valiant fight that deserves to be known. Reina Pennington's "Wings, Women, & War" does honor and justice to the stories of these women.

I read this book cover to cover on Friday (in the office, door shut, looking very busy). Living with WW 2 aviation everyday through the collection of fighter aircraft we restore and fly in England, it is easy to become a little blasé about the way people lived their extraordinary lives in that time. This book hauled me right up by the collar all over again.

It is remarkable - the pages turn as easily as reading the most engrossing novel and yet this is clearly a thoroughly researched review of these womens' history. I am utterly impressed. To communicate passion for a subject while speaking with such authority - the authority that can only come with knowing and understanding a subject as well as Pennington does - is so rare.

Having read almost every single book available in the narrow field that covers these Soviet women, I belive this book sets the new benchmark.

If only history could always be communicated like this!

This is an important book which dispells the usual misconceptions about women in combat in general and Soviet airwomen's contribution in particular. The chapter on Soviet women fighter pilots is especially valuable. Through personal interaction with several surviving former members of the 586th Fighter Regiment, especially its second permanent commander Aleksandr Gridnev, Pennington has gained a lot of inside knowledge pertaining to this regiment, the most controversial of the three combat units formed by Marina Raskova, the "Soviet Amelia Earhart." This reader was surprised to encounter six misspelled Russian and Ukrainian place names in the book. In addition, the name of the first chief of staff in the 125th "M.M. Raskova" Borisov Dive Bomber Regiment has been rendered as "Militsiya Kazarinova" instead of "Militsa Kazarinova." However, these misspellings can still be corrected using an errata slip affixed to the inside of the back cover of the book.

Call To The Center: The Gospel's Invitation To Deeper Prayer is a collection of meditations by M. Basil Pennington (a Cistercian monk of St. Joseph's Abby in Spencer, Massachusetts) on the Gospel of Matthew. This reflections fairly reverberate with an abiding faith and the power of opening one's heart to God. Light, duty, faith, and reverence form core principles in this enlightening work which is a very highly recommended addition to Christian Studies reading lists and library collections.

The book's title says it all: it is something like a hearing aid, helping us listen to the Gospels with the ears of our hearts. Pennington is so deeply experienced and so learned in this subject that he speaks with supreme authority. He is a teacher to be trusted.
This book will be both a guide for beginners and support for those far along the way of prayer. It will be much loved.

Trying to live a life centered on love of Christ, and open to his gifts, is not an easy challenge in today's busy world. This new edition of Fr. Basil Pennington's CALL TO THE CENTER is just what I have been looking for as the next book selection for our centering prayer support group. The chapters are short--excellent for an evening's discussion. It is written in a conversational style, but filled with insights for deepening prayer, and helps for avoiding some of the common difficulties. This is a book that can be read and re-read. Fr. Basil's enthusiasm and genuine love for centering prayer will certainly be an inspiration to those new to this form of prayer, and an encouragement for those who have been following the Gospel's invitation to deeper prayer--the book's subtitle--in the years since, as Fr. Basil reminds us, the "Second Vatican Council has made it most clear that all are called to intimate holiness, to the joy of contemplative union with the Lord."

This book is structured like a fine symphony: its unity is the theme of the power of silent prayer; its variety (development of the theme) lies in its metaphors for different life experiences; and its progression is masterful: each chapter grows and reveals its insight, and the final, golden chapter grows to a climax that recapitulates, gathers together everything that went before. CIRCLING TO THE CENTER is a quiet tour de force.

Susan Tiberghien's Circling To The Center: One Woman's Encounter With Silent Prayer is a superbly crafted, inspiringly presented spiritual memoir of considerably depth and grace. The engaging text is enhanced with thirteen thematically appropriate illustrations. Circling To The Center is highly recommended, contemplative reading for all who seek to enhance their own person spirituality and relationship with the Deity.

From "Looking for Gold", her first book, Susan Tiberghien seems to have found gold in "Circling to the Center, One Woman's Encounter with Silent Prayer." The book is a pilgrim's story. Through her own life, she takes the reader to depths of one's own soul while gently introducing them to spiritual mentors along the way. She reawakens that inner yearning for a deeper spiritual life and the need to create space for reflection from a grateful heart. Her 'Suggested Reading' list will be well appreciatedd by anyone searching for a scholarly spiritual foundation. A compassionate and inspirational book, read with much pleasure. Hard to put down.

A.A. Pennington.....SPARKLES! Reccomended for every audience

An outstanding effort for a first-time writer. Gut-wrenching emotions make for a quick but memorable read. The characters plight stay with you long after you turn the last page. The stories in this book have far better plots than the overated big budgeted Hollywood treatment of the tragic sinking of the Titanic. I highly recomend this one.

my future sister-in-law wrote this book. it's excellent. for those of you who are TITANIC fans, you will enjoy this book.

At last a book that distills the learning of the last 20-30 years in business management. Drennan and Penningtons book is unique in the simple and structured way in which it helps set out action plans for us all, no matter what our role in business. An irresistible feature is a checklist for carrying out an immediate evaluation of your company and its world class status. A special aspect of the authors approach is the people dimension and how to achieve world class performance through people.

It is also a great reference book for picking up and putting down. Its part of my toolkit for running businesses in different parts of the world. Well done to the authors!

The book focuses on the 12 key benchmarks that lead on organization to world class performance and results. We are using this book within our facility in order to help drive results. Best practices and continuous improvement are the emphasis. I strongly recommend this book for all organizations. All managers have a copy of this book and we are beginning our world class audit.

I purchased this book several years ago when I started counting carbohydrates. A nutritionist recommened it as being the most comprehensive resource of its kind. I have found it invaluable. The fact that is not only contains prepackaged food, but fresh foods, meats, homemade items and even some common restaurants (along with many many other catagories), makes it THE perfect resource.

This book is for those of us on special diets that do not want 'special' books telling us what to eat, but neglecting to tell us what not to eat, or for those of us who just want to judge for ourselves what is good (or bad) for us. This book contains very complete information, including canned foods by brand, candy, gum, alcohol beverages, foods prepared in many ways, virtually any foods, even poi. The values listed include alcohol, calories, water, protein, carbohydrates, sugar, dietary fiber, fat, saturated fatty acids, monosaturated fatty acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, cholesterol, vitamins A(RE), A(IU), C, B-1, B-2, B-4, B-12, D, E, E (as alpha-tocopherol), K, niacin, folic acid, pantothenic acid. Also sodium, calcium, magnesium, zinc, manganese, potassium, phosphorus, iron, copper. Amino acids, caffeine, gluten, iodine, pectin, phytosterol, purines, salicylates, selenium, theobromine. What more could the dietary conscious want?

I have been a diabetic for many years. My new doctor advised me to get this book so that I could count carbohydrates more accurately. It is a great book for diabetics. My new doctor can now treat me more efficiently. Thanks.

"The Voice of the Soul" is an autobiographical account of the journey of the author, Judith Pennington, from a hostile attitude toward religion to one of acceptance and belief in God. The first part of the book goes through her history and how she developed such an antagonistic attitude toward church and religion. The rest of the book allows the reader to follow her through her growth process. Most of her growth process seems to be based on "writings" where she sits down and just starts to write things that come from deep down in her soul where one's higher self resides.

She stresses that this was her path that she took and that it may be very different for others as we all have our own path to follow. The final portion of the book is a collection of her "writings" organized in the natural order of the growth experience, from "The Call", to "The Path", to "Self-Knowledge", to "The Struggle", to "The Soul's Mountaintop".

Strongly New Age in format, many traditional Christians and other fundamentalists will have a lot of problems with many of the concepts in the book. Others that embrace the possibilities of New Age thought will find it a delightful and inspiring book.

This book takes you on a journey from belief to disbelief and back again to belief. It's a journey a whole lot of us took in the sixties and seventies when the author was taking it too. I don't find the book anti-religious at all (as one reviewer seemed to do.... did he actually READ it I wonder?) Instead, the book comes full circle back to a fundamental belief in Christianity but without the fundamentalist limitations that prevent a person from obtaining personal communion with God. If Judy Pennington hears voices who say the beautiful, inspiring and thought-provoking statements like the ones she writes about in the book, then I'm ready to accept them as God given. Let's all pray for pinched souls who cannot accept that God can be this big and this personal. Peace.

Ms. Pennington has a very lyrical writing style, that was easily read. From the introduction, where she talked about her childhood, her feeling of spiritual connectedness, and her struggle with daily living, I was hooked. In her book, she talks about God's "disappearance" and her search to find his loving influence again. For me, it's not about God doing the disappearing act, but "How far away from God did I go?" What was so wonderful, was to read how Ms. Pennington opened her mind to the possibility of a spiritual journey and then began walking one. Through Medjugorje, to Scotland, to Virginia Beach...always moving along on this journey in search of spirit. She concludes that we all have a higher self, that is here on this earth to learn the lessons, and grow and move towards the Light. I believe that is true for me as well. And it wasn't until I read her book, that I learned the meaning behind a poem that I had written in 1984.
The "writings" are beautiful messages of love, patience, and peace. All in all, this is a beautiful experience with a message of hope, and the open-mindedness with which it is written has given me answers that I can hold dear, and pass on. Thank You Ms. Pennington, from the bottom of my heart.

Money is a difficult thing to come by in the tiny western Massachusetts town of Floral Manor. Young Isabella Ripa yearns to be able to buy sweets and other things her impossible older sister Anna won't take away, yet her job at Aunt Tallulah's antique gift shop yields an almost nonexistent salary. Tallulah, herself strapped for cash, hopes a few smart purchases from an upcoming estate sale will yield profitable sales, and in turn save the business.

Salvation, by Isabella's perception, seems to come in the form of a young woman looking to sell a birdcage and a pair of lovebirds named Mr. and Mrs. Pennington through the shop. A sale would bring in some money, Isabella concedes, but before she can tell her aunt the cage is stolen from the shop, Penningtons and all. What's more, the original owner of the birds is soon found murdered in her hotel.

Sparred on by friends, Isabella reluctantly launches her own investigation, leading her to collect clues through encounters with the homeless and a nightmarish retreat weekend in an allegedly haunted abbey. It isn't long, however, before Isabella's worries switch from building a bank account to preserving her life.

Reading THE NIGHT THE PENNINGTONS VANISHED brought back memories for me, of how much I looked forward to getting my next Nancy Drew mystery and plowing through the pages. Heusler's debut mystery for young adults is a delight to read, a story that doesn't talk down to its intended audience. In teenager Isabella there is a real person with whom young girls can identify, she is a girl dealing with typical pressures - money woes, weight issues, sibling problems - on top of a mystery.

She is not the perfect titian-haired Nancy Drew and she does not have to be. We root for her when she counters sister Anna's abuse by charging her money to borrow things, and we applaud her reasoning when friend Vicki suggests a get rich quick scheme. More than that, we want to turn the pages of Heusler's novel to see what happens next. Heusler would be wise to continue this setting as a series.

Isabella Ripa knows she is not to open the door to the boutique when Aunt Tallulah is not present. However the elegant woman at the door is so desperate Isabella does so anyway. Thus Isabella begins an adventure filled with murder, disappearance, conspiracy, machination and intrigue. Isabella and her older sister are wards of her aunt since her father's death and abandonment by her mother. Isabella and her two closest friends Vicki and Lauren set out to discover what has become of the Penningtons. The search leads them to almost becoming victims of a desperate con man who has already killed and is ready to murder again.

On the pages of The Night The Penningtons Vanished Writer Huesler proves her versatility. Her first book Buried in the Townhouse was a delightful mystery. The Night The Penningtons Vanished is a mystery, however this one is for the younger set. The Night The Penningtons Vanished is a well-crafted novel filled with delightful characters. Isabella is overweight, eats too much and like her friends is prone to jump to conclusions much like many fifteen-year-olds in our society. Vicki and Lauren prove perfect foils to Isabella's sleuthing. Carla the older sister is a self-centered girl, mad at the world, won't study, driving Aunt Tallulah up the wall. Again much as we find in many seventeen-year-olds.

Dialog between the characters is believable as the girls scrap among themselves, spar with Aunt Tallulah and pick scenarios out of the air to explain what is happening. Writer Heusler's affinity for description serves her well, the reader is drawn right into settings, we feel the cold, taste the bitter, see the frightening.

This is a book sure to please many mature middle school readers as well as the young adult set. Parents, teachers and home schoolers alike will find the book a valuable addition to their library.

Well done, happy to recommend.

Reviewed by: molly martin

Title: . The Night The Penningtons Vanished

Interesting read Recommended 5 stars

The Review
On the pages of The Night The Penningtons Vanished Writer Huesler proves her versatility.

Dialog between the characters is believable as the girls scrap among themselves, spar with Aunt Tallulah and pick scenarios out of the air to explain what is happening. Writer Heusler's affinity for description serves her well, the reader is drawn right into settings, we feel the cold, taste the bitter, see the frightening.

Well done, happy to recommend.

Reviewed by: molly martin ...

This book was a lot like "Fake, Fraud or Genuine" in terms of identification content. I was hoping for a book that would help me find out where some of the odd old things I have came from.

This book tells the reader how to recognize pieces that are truly old, and explains the differences between truly old furniture, new furniture made from pieces of old furniture, reproductions, and other categories of collectible pieces.

It also has vast sections on cataloging and documenting for insurance and other valuation purposes, and working with appraisers.

Well worth adding to your antiques library! Emyl Jenkins covers both antiques of today plus which items will become the antiques of tomorrow. Well written with good pictures.

This book does just what the title says. An excellent reference book for just about everything a person might come across in garage sales, collectible stores, auctions, and attics. Fun to read and indexed very well. Learned a great deal from it.